A man has been found guilty of the manslaughter of a woman who died in an arson attack on her home in Co Tipperary two years ago.
Jason Murphy (36) of Elm Park, Clonmel, Co Tipperary was found guilty at Clonmel Circuit Court of the manslaughter of Ann-Marie O’Neill (50) and two counts of arson. He had denied the charges
Mrs O’Neill died after a fire, set by Murphy in her husband Pat’s car, spread to the house at Elm Park, Clonmel at about 5.30am on April 27th, 2007.
Mr O’Neill gave evidence of how he jumped from a first-floor bedroom to escape the blaze, breaking his ankle in the process, but that his wife was unable to jump and died in the fire.
The trial heard Murphy was drinking with a number of people at a bonfire in a field adjacent to the O’Neill’s house the night of the fire.
He later went to a party in a friend’s house and swapped jackets with another man and left the party at 4.30am. He then arrived to another friend’s house at 5.30am. The friend described the accused as having a “blackened face”.
A jury of seven women and five men found Murphy guilty of manslaughter by a majority of 11-1 and guilty of the two counts of arson by unanimous verdict.
Judge Thomas Teehan remanded Murphy in custody for sentencing to the next sitting of Clonmel Circuit Court in June.